LEAP Summer Session
Leadership in Environmental Analysis for the People
July 21 – 27, 2024
Hendrix College
Directors: Dr. Courtney Hatch (Professor of Chemistry) & Dr. Brett Hill (Professor of Anthropology)
Register for LEAP
Registration Deadline is April 26, 2024
LEAP will introduce tools and concepts of environmental justice to Hendrix students. Our goal is to bring greater awareness of environmental justice concerns, particularly in Little Rock, AR and to provide basic training to students who want to work toward improving environmental conditions in their communities. The camp is especially oriented toward students of diverse backgrounds to make them aware of hazards in their environment and encourage them to pursue stem disciplines related to environmental analysis and advocacy.
Topics covered will include:
- case studies of environmental hazards that disproportionately affect communities of color and low socio-economic status,
- techniques in chemistry and biology for evaluating air and water quality in local environments
- Geographic Information Science (GIS) technology to evaluate spatial relationships among environmental hazards and population characteristics including race and income.
The camp will consist of a combination of lectures, field analyses, lab analyses and guest speakers. Activities will progress from introduction to scientific literature on environmental justice, to field analyses of air and water quality, to synthesis of data sets in map and graph output that reveals systematic patterns of disproportionate exposure. Learning strategies will focus on collaborative, team-based activities emphasizing inclusivity. Student participants will receive SP Odyssey credit.
Learning Goals:
- To learn basic techniques of environmental analyses.
- To learn basic techniques of geographic spatial analysis.
- To familiarize students with environmental inequalities common in US cities.
- To expand students’ awareness of careers and career paths in environmental justice and earth science.
Eligibility: All Hendrix students are encouraged to apply, particularly those from under-represented minority groups with interests in geospatial and earth science or environmental justice.
Cost: There is no cost to attend. Campus housing (The Houses), meals, transportation, and activities during the session are included at no cost and are funded by The Nancy and Craig Wood Odyssey Professorship.
Questions: Contact Dr. Courtney Hatch or Dr. Brett Hill for more information.